1. Claude Phoebe(ManxMan)

•Chapter 12✓

It was time, the Supreme Alpha's birthday, mostly known around our pack house as Uncle Caesar's birthday along with my five siblings.

Said group were all buzzing with energy.

Danielle had really gone all out in her princess style dress, her hair was done all elaborate and it was exhausting having to wait for her to finish it. Kathryn was dressed by Danielle, in blue satin, simple but elegant the two 13 year olds were absolute queens at the party. Travis, Trent and Xavier all in suits looking fancy and adorable, Xavier kept pulling at his collar with a scowl and Christian was beside him chuckling and telling him to stop.

Ace had his hand on my bicep, he looked dashing in his grey suit, we wore the exact same one but he looked better, and also his pocket handkerchief matched my eyes and mine matched his.

"Claude!" My head snapped over to the sound of his voice.

Caesar was a handsome boy, he was big despite his young age and his smile had not changed. It had only been three years since he was taken from us, but his brightness was still present which made me feel a lot more at ease.

His hair was combed back, his eyes dark and I couldn't see how I could call him uncle.

"Alpha." I gave a polite bow being watched by so many people.

"Please don't, I get enough of that daily." He pulled me in for a hug, I bent over just slightly before my siblings stole the show.

"Uncle Ceasar!" They squealed joyfully and attacked him with hugs. So much for being discrete.

Caesar embraced them all with a laugh, I couldn't help smiling at all of them together. Xavier was scowling, arms crossed over his chest before Caesar was finally let go by our siblings. Caesar looked to Xavier and gave a pout opening his arms and approaching slowly.

"Come on now, even you have to admit, it's nice to see you." Xavier couldn't hide the blush even if he tried, his cheeks blossomed red against his fair skin and he rolled his eyes, gifting Caesar one of his most rare tilting of the corner of his lip before they embraced briefly. Xavier coughed and pulled Christian towards a refresher table and we all chuckled after them.

Caesar finally fixed his eyes on me. Dark and commanding yet open and happy.

"I've missed you." Ace kissed my cheek then and moved my siblings towards food.

Caesar hooked his arm with mine and led us to a table before sighing.

"I'm glad we got to come this year."

"Trust me, it wasn't easy." He looked down at his hands which he laid flat against the table, playing with a silver ring around his pointer finger. His scent was tainted with fear and even doubt.

"Is everything okay?"

Caesar looked up at me, holding my stare before glancing around and shaking his head slightly.

"Why wouldn't it be?" The words were tense and a man came beside him, grabbing his shoulder, there seemed to be pressure in the touch but Caesar didn't even flinch, however the warmth in his eyes faded and his face was stoice, cold and closed off.

"My King, who, prey tell it this?"

Caesar blinked almost as though he were bored.

"Alpha Claude Phoebe of Greyhound mountain pack... My nephew." Caesar's lip twitched slightly then before he cleared his throat.

"Ah, yes, we've heard so much about you." The man reached out his hand. "Patrick Guil. Beta one to our Supreme Alpha."

"One? There's more of you?" I aimed to sound light hearted and chuckled grabbing his hand firmly. He winced and his eyes grew cloudy.

"Yes, running such a large kingdom one needs more than just two Beta's."

I gave Caesar an impressed look.

"Forgive me for the question, we don't really get to hear much about this place. It's beautiful by the way, well, what I saw of it anyway." Drinks are brought to our small table and I pick it up feeling the tension rise in the room.

"Well, forgive me for not saying anymore. After all, there is a reason you know nothing."

For some reason it felt like some kind of jab I couldn't place. A kind of insult which I couldn't really feel insulted by so I shrugged.

"Now, your majesty, the people need to see you."

Caesar gave me a longing look and a tight lipped smile before leaving. Ace found me seconds later.

"Well, isn't this just fancy." Ace said setting a small plate of appetizers before me, I blinked and raised a brow.

"You're joking."

"We should have eaten before coming here."

"See! I told you!" I whined loudly at my mate who laughed and punched my shoulder while I regretfully swallowed everything in one bite.

"Your brother's and sisters are loving it." He nodded behind me and I watched Danielle and Travis being extra. They had their pinkies in the air and I could hear them faking accents that are considered posh and snobby. I laughed shaking my head.

"Well, at least they are having a good time." Ace looked at me, his hand in mine then and frowned.

"You wanna leave?"

"Not me, Caesar." Ace furrowed his brows and I explained the exchange to him. "It's probably non of my business but, it all feels tense to me."

"No, your right. That Patrick fellow needs a stick to cheer him up."

I blinked at my mate as he downed a glass of gin and smirked.

"Did you really just?"

"I have no regrets." I laughed then at the fact that he really went and made a dog joke.

"Dance?"

We decided to enjoy as much as we could of the day before speeches ruined the fun and eventually we were fed and even then it wasn't enough for my appetite and I was craving pizza by the end of it.

We all got to dance with Caesar, which was the only time in the night the guy seemed to genuinely be having fun, well, until his beta put an end to it, we all caught the silent reminder to be collected as supreme Alpha and I wondered then, why Caesar being so young had to shoulder such words.

There wasn't much I could do even if I wanted which I really did the more that beta meddled with his night.

Caesar wished the quintuplets happy birthday and gave them presents before we left, hugging us all even Ace.

"Hopefully I get to have you guys over more often." Caesar smiled, sliding his hands into his pockets, shoulders haunches and began waving.

"Indeed." I stared at his beta who narrowed his eyes at us and I sighed shaking my head before we were blind folded and placed into a car with tinted windows just like how we had arrived.

Within the vehicle a pleasant scent filtered and soon we all fell to sleep.

When we woke the car was on the high way heading back to our pack lands. Danielle was playing on her phone.

"Don't tell me you woke first."

"Oh, I never slept." She giggled and we all looked at her.

"But-?"

"Ssh." She held her finger to my brother who had asked so openly, forgetting the person driving us wasn't our own. "Later, I need to finish this level."

Trent leaned closer to Danielle, eyes widening then. "That's my phone. Your playing my game! Dude!"

They spent the next thirty minutes fighting about the game Danielle nearly ruined for Trent.

[A/N]
Written: 27 June 2021